Reagan Denies That the U.S. is Trying to ‘undermine or ‘overthrow’ the Begin Government

President Reagan strongly denied reports last night that the United States is trying to “undermine” or “overthrow” the government of Premier Menachem Begin because of his Administration’s difficulties with the present Israeli government.

“We have never interfered in the internal government of a country, we have no intention of doing so, never had any thought of that kind, Reagan stressed in a nationally televised press conference from the White House. “We expect to be doing business with the government of Israel and with Prime Minister Begin, if that is the decision of the Israeli people.”

The President noted that the Israeli people proved in their reaction to the massacre in the Palestinian camps in west Beirut that “There’s no change in the spirit of the people of Israel. They are our ally, we feel morally obligated to the preservation of Israel and we’re going to continue to be that way.”

Reagan had little to say about the massacre itself except that he agreed with his Ambassador to the United Nations, Jeane Kirkpatrick, that the U.S. had to share some responsibility for it. But he said this was in the sense that more should have been done over the years “to bring about the peace that we’re trying so hard now to get” in the Middle East.

However, he denied the charge that the multinational force, made up of U.S. marines and French and Italian troops, were withdrawn too early this month. Reagan said they left after accomplishing their task “to oversee and make sure that the PLO left Lebanon.” He said no one could have foreseen the assassination of Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel two weeks ago.

REJECTS CHARGES ABOUT ISRAEL

Reagan also rejected the notion that he believes Israel is trying to “undermine” the peace initiative he proposed September I. “I don’t believe that,” he said. He repeated his contention that both sides are “staking out” positions “so as to be in a better position when it comes time to negotiate.”

The President said he was “not less optimistic” about the prospects for his peace initiative in the wake of Gemayel’s assassination and the massacre in the Palestinian camps. “I’m also not deluding myself that it’s going to be easy.” Reagan said one side seeks territory and the other security “and what has to be negotiated out is a kind of exchange of territory for security.”

At the same time, Reagan stressed that he meant what he said when he proposed his plan. “This country will never stand by and see any settlement that does not guarantee the security of Israel,” he said.

However, the President pointed out that the perception of Israel has changed. “Israel should understand, as we’ve come to understand, from talking to other Arab states that where, from the beginning, all of us, including Israel, have thought of it as a tiny country fighting for its life, surrounded by larger states and hostile states that wanted to see it destroyed, that their military power has become such that there are Arab states that now voice a fear that they’re … they may be expansionist and they have the military power.”

GIVES NO TIME LIMIT FOR MARINES’ STAY

Reagan could give no time limit for how long the marines, who began entering west Beirut today, would remain. But he said they, along with the French and Italian troops would remain until both Israel and Syria withdraw from Lebanon and the Lebanese government feels it can control its own security.

The multinational force is in Lebanon “to give a kind of support and stability while the Lebanese government seeks to reunite its people … and bring about a unified Lebanon with a Lebanese army which will then be able to preserve order in its own country,” Reagan said.

He said while this is going on he is “optimistic” that the Israeli and Syrian armies will leave Lebanon “as quickly as possible.” He said then it will be up to the Lebanese government “to tell us when they feel they’re in charge” and “we’ll depart.”

The President obviously did not expect this to take a long time, since he rejected a suggestion that it would be “another long entanglement such as Vietnam.” Under the 1973 War Powers Act, the President would need approval of Congress to keep the marines in Lebanon longer than 60 days.

However, former Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin estimated last night that it would take one to two years for the Lebanese army to be built up sufficiently to maintain security over its country. Appearing on ABC-TV’s “Nightline” from Tel Aviv, Rabin said that if Syria, the PLO terrorists and the Israeli troops all left simultaneously, then the multinational force could have a chance to help Lebanon restore its sovereignty.

He said the United States would need to help train the Lebanese Army. Rabin said if this happens, then in one or two years the Lebanese army would be able to function on its own. But he warned that any shortcuts might only lead to disastrous effects in the Mideast.

OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED

At one point at his press conference Reagan said he did not know why the U.S. opposed a United Nations resolution for an international inquiry into the massacre in Beirut except to say he believed it contained such things as sanctions and a threat to expel Israel which the U.S. has always opposed. The State Department said last week the U.S. opposed an international inquiry while the Lebanese and Israeli governments were conducting their own investigation.

On another matter, Reagan said the U.S. had held up a sale of F-16 jets to Israel because it did not think the “climate” was right in view of the situation in Lebanon. But he said all other military supplies to Israel in the “pipeline” were going ahead, including spare parts and ammunition. He said the only exception was the decision to suspend the delivery of “cluster shells” because of the “controversy” over their use in Lebanon.(By David Friedman)